Of Mice and Men Essay Assignment- Major Grade = 100 pts.

Through his novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses specific characters or relationships to make key statements about life during the Great Depression. He comments on the ideas of honesty, friendship, hope, dreams, loyalty, and responsibility. Select one of these topics and explore what statement Steinbeck makes about them in the novel Of Mice and Men.

This will be a four-paragraph essay that must follow the following format:
I. Introduction Paragraph • introduce the book and author • provide significant elements of background for the Great Depression • Provide an overview of what the novel is about (in general). • Introduce the two topics you’ve chosen to focus on (ie: honesty, friendship). • Provide a thesis that states one of the most significant themes in the text and the two characters used to reveal it.

II. Body Paragraph #1: CHARACTER ONE

A. Topic sentence that reveals How the first character reveals this theme. 1. Lead into quote with speaker and context. 2. Quote #1 a. explain what this quote reveals about this character. b. explain how this quote proves or relates to the theme. 3. Lead into quote with speaker and context. 4. Quote #2 c. explain what this quote reveals about this character. d. explain how this quote proves or relates to the theme. 5. Lead into quote by explaining speaker and context 6. Quote #3 e.explain what this quote reveals about this character. f.. explain how this quote proves or relates to the theme.. 7. Concluding Sentence

III. Body Paragraph #2: CHARACTER TWO

A. Topic sentence that reveals HOW your second character reveals this theme. 1. Lead into quote with speaker and context. 2. Quote #4 a. explain what this quote reveals about this character. b.